British North America

The influx of LOYALIST settlers from the US into NOVA SCOTIA resulted in the creation of NEW BRUNSWICK and CAPE BRETON I as separate colonies in 1784. The division of the Province of Quebec into UPPER CANADA and LOWER CANADA in 1791 separated the people of predominantly British and American origin in the west from those of mainly French origin in the east.

In 1799 St John's Island was renamed Prince Edward Island. In 1820 Cape Breton Island was reunited with Nova Scotia and in 1841 Upper and Lower Canada were united to form the PROVINCE OF CANADA. On the west coast the HBC colony of Vancouver Island was established in 1849 and what is now southern BRITISH COLUMBIA became another crown colony in 1858. In 1866 the two were united as British Columbia, a single colony with enlarged boundaries.

Author N.L. NICHOLSON

Suggested Reading
N.L. Nicholson, The Boundaries of the Canadian Confederation (1979); R.C. Harris and J. Warkentin, Canada Before Confederation (1974).

Links to Other Sites
Historica-Dominion Institute
The website for the Historica-Dominion Institute, parent organization of The Canadian Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Check out their extensive online feature about the War of 1812, the "Heritage Minutes" video collection, and many other interactive resources concerning Canadian history, culture, and heritage.

Charlottetown Conference of 1864
This website covers the key issues and events at the Charlottetown Conference of 1864. Also features biographical profiles and an impressive collection of archival photographs and documents. From Library and Archives Canada.

French Canada and the Early Decades of British Rule (1760 - 1791)
A digitized copy of a booklet that examines the issues and policies that defined Britian's administration of its North American colonies in the decades preceeding the implementation of the Quebec Act and the Constitutional Act. From the Canadian Historical Association and Library and Archives Canada.

Canadian Geographic: Historical Maps
Take a walk through the history of Canada. Select a year to see the maps and the history related to that era. From the "Canadian Geographic" website.

Guy Carleton
A profile of Guy Carleton, governor of Québec and leader of British North American Forces, during and after the American Revolution. From the "Black Loyalists" website.

Revolution Rejected: Canada and the American Revolution
This illustrated Canadian War Museum website recounts the story of the failed American invasion of Canada in 1775–1776 and the migration of American Loyalists to Canada after 1783.